St Alban’s church in Highgate was only the fifth Anglican church to be built in Perth, and was an early design by renowned architect and soldier, Joseph John Talbot Hobbs.

Now a densely populated inner city suburb just two kilometres from the CBD, in the 1870s Highgate was considered to be on the extreme northern fringe of Perth.

“It basically consisted of a number of workers' cottages on the eastern side of Beaufort Street, but as the population grew there was a need for much larger suburbs,” said Richard Offen, Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Perth.

“When Highgate was first lotted up, the Anglican Church had the sense to acquire a five acre lot.

“The population wasn’t large enough then to justify building a church and the population had to traipse into town to St George’s Cathedral. But by the beginning of the gold boom there was a much larger population."

At that time there were only four Anglican churches in the whole of Perth.

Bringing worship to the city fringe

“In those days, public transport was non-existent and it was a long way to walk to the city,” Mr Offen explained.

“In the spring of 1888 they decided to build what they called a mission chapel. A committee was set up to raise the funds and by February 1889 they had collected £170 and Joseph John Talbot Hobbs was asked to draw up plans.

“The small building that he designed for this site was going to cost £280 to build and seat 150 people.”

The West Australian wrote in 1889:

St Albans will form an important addition to the buildings which have been erected of late years, and picturesquely situated in one of the best parts of the city, it will be one of the prettiest little churches in the colony.

“With great ceremony, on 27 February 1889, the foundation stone was laid by Mrs Hare, one of the key supporters of the church, and after that they all had picnic tea,” Mr Offen said.

“Around 300 people we are told made the long journey from Perth. By June 10 it was ready for services.

“The population continued to grow at a pretty fast rate up here, and in 1898 it was decided to enlarge the church according to a sketch by Talbot Hobbs.

“St Alban’s is to this day a very active parish church which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.”

Joseph John Talbot Hobbs, architect and soldier

Joseph John Talbot Hobbs was born in 1864 in England and migrated to Perth in 1887.

“He initially worked as a carpenter making seats for Fremantle Railway Station, but soon set up practice as an architect, and designed a great many buildings in town,” explained Mr Offen.

“But we also remember Talbot Hobbs as a great soldier. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant General and had a very distinguished career during the First World War.

“He was the master-mind of the relief of Villers-Bretonneux. He was also known by his men as a very compassionate and considerate person, which is probably something that they didn’t experience with a lot of commanders at that time.

“He was quite incredible and after the war he combined his talents of architect and soldier. When the dawn service takes place on Anzac Day in King’s park, it is at the Cenotaph that he designed.”

Talbot Hobbs also designed St George's College in Crawley, the Weld Club, the Savoy Hotel and the Perth Masonic Lodge.

On 'What's all that about?' Kimberly Howie explores a hidden part of Perth's past, every Monday at 7.15am on 720 Breakfast.